If you have been injured in an accident with a drunk driver in Shreveport, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your physical injuries, financial hardships, and mental anguish.
The Morris Bart law firm represents drunk driving accident victims across Louisiana and beyond. As such, we know how serious these accidents can be. That is why our Shreveport personal injury attorneys continuously fight to hold these negligent parties responsible for their actions.
The way we see it, drunk drivers made the decision to drink and get behind the wheel, so they should have to face the consequences of their actions. If you retain a Shreveport drunk driving accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm, our attorneys can investigate your case and gather evidence on your behalf, with the ultimate goal of proving liability and revealing the truth behind your accident.
To learn more about our legal services, contact a member of the Morris Bart law firm team today at (318) 553-5470. We offer free consultations to Shreveport car accident victims.
What Our Shreveport DUI Accident Lawyer Can Do for You
While you may be tempted to deal with the liable party’s insurance company directly, enlisting the help of a Shreveport DUI lawyer can help you to focus on healing. When we manage your case, we will:
Explain Your Rights
Our team of DUI car accident lawyers in Shreveport can provide legal advice to give you an in-depth understanding of your situation. We can help you weigh your options as you pursue litigation. Additionally, we will prepare you for deposition or trial if it becomes necessary.
Investigate the Accident
Our Shreveport DUI accident attorneys can collect all the necessary evidence needed to win your case.
If the defendant’s attorney or insurance company moves to dispute the cause of the accident, we are ready to bring in experts like accident reconstruction professionals to prove our theories.
Prove Negligence Caused Your Accident
After identifying the party or parties responsible for the DUI collision, our Shreveport car accident lawyer can establish how their negligence caused your injuries. We can build a case on the evidence if it shows:
- Duty of care: The driver owed you a duty of care to act reasonably and safely on the road.
- Breach of duty of care: They breached that duty of care when they broke the law and got behind the wheel while under the influence.
- Causation: This violation directly caused the DUI accident that injured you in Shreveport.
- Damages: The liable party owes compensatory damages for your injuries and losses. These include medical bills, lost income, and other accident-related costs.
Our Shreveport DUI accident attorney will review the accident and advise you on the next steps on your case.
Assess Your Damages
Our DUI accident attorneys in Shreveport can review your medical receipts to arrive at an accurate estimate for your compensation. Where present, we will consider the long-term effects of your injuries, such as rehabilitative care, medication, and diminished earning capacity if you were left with a disability.
Represent You During Settlement Negotiations
Working with a DUI accident lawyer in Shreveport can ensure that the insurance company pays what is owed to you. While our goal is to get you the compensation to which you may be entitled to during a settlement, we will not hesitate to go to trial if the insurance company fails to agree on an equitable amount.
To get started on your DUI accident case, you can reach out to our personal injury attorney today for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a Drunk Driving Accident lawyer serving Shreveport, call (318) 553-5470
The High Rates of Drunk Driving in Shreveport
According to data from the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation (CARTS) at Louisiana State University, Caddo Parish had 1,198 arrests for driving under the influence in 2018—the third-highest total of any parish in the state.
The year prior, over 40% of motor vehicle accidents in Louisiana were related to alcohol, according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (HSC). Sadly, in 2017 alone, these drunk driving accidents cost 311 people their lives, with many others being seriously injured.
Liability for Drunk Driving Accidents
In a personal injury case, liability may be established with proof that the responsible driver caused the accident by committing a negligent act. Any violation of traffic law that causes an accident may also qualify as negligence, such as:
- Failure to yield
- Speeding
- An illegal lane change
- Running a red light
- Not using headlights at night
- An illegal turn
This means that you may not necessarily need hard evidence that the responsible driver was intoxicated to hold them liable for your damages. If a responding officer issued a DUI to the other driver, this certainly may be used as evidence in your case. However, even with no such criminal charges against the responsible driver, proof that they caused your accident by breaking a traffic law may establish their liability in a personal injury case.
When a Shreveport drunk driving accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm represents you, we can investigate the accident and gather proof of liability. This may include:
- Photos, video footage, or a police report from the accident
- The driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
- Employment records that show income, weekly work hours
- Witness statements
- Your medical records
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts, medical and mental health professionals, highways safety experts, economists, and others
As every accident creates unique challenges, the Morris Bart law firm would love to start gathering information about your case today. To get started with your free case review, contact a representative of our firm at (318) 553-5470.
How We Assign a Value to Your Drunk Driving Accident Losses at Morris Bart
While drunk driving accidents can cause devastating physical injuries, accidents like these can also have a significant financial impact on you.
Fortunately, you may not have to accept these financial hardships when a negligent driver caused your accident. If the other party is liable for your accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation for applicable damages, such as:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost income, including tips, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of income
- Reduced or lost earning capability
- Property damage (including repair and replacement costs for your vehicle and other personal items)
- Mental anguish, emotional distress
- Disabilities
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Wrongful death damages (if you lost a loved one in the accident – recoverable damages include recovering funeral and burial expenses, the decedent’s medical expenses, their lost household income, and other losses)
A Shreveport drunk driving accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm can help document your financial, physical, and psychological suffering when we represent you. We can use various methods to assign a value to your case, including:
- Documenting your recovery-related expenses, including hospitalizations, physical therapy, medications, disability accommodations, and more
- Gathering invoices, receipts, bills, employment documentation, and other resources to track the scope of your financial losses
- Calling upon industry experts to help assign a value to intangible losses, such as mental anguish
Click to contact our Shreveport Car Accident Attorney today
Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations Can Affect Your Shreveport DUI Accident
Per La. Civil Code Art. 3492, there is a general one-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits in Louisiana. This means that your lawsuit may need to be filed within one year of the accident, or you could lose your right to recover compensation via a lawsuit.
There may be some exceptions to this general one-year time limit. The Morris Bart law firm can help you meet the deadlines in your case and protect your right to sue when we represent you. Call us today to learn more about how the statute of limitations pertains to your case.
What to Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver in Shreveport, LA
According to data from the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), one person dies every hour in a motor vehicle accident involving an alcohol-impaired driver. Despite the severity of this issue, drunk drivers continue to get behind the wheel. If you find yourself in a DUI accident, here are a few things you can do.
Seek Medical Care
If it is safe to do so, move a safe distance away from the road. If you are gravely injured, do not move. Ask someone to call 911 and wait to receive medical assistance.
For minor injuries, visit your healthcare provider as soon as possible for treatment and further examination. When you decide to take legal action against the liable party, your medical records can be a valuable resource.
You also should follow and complete the treatment plan you received from your doctor. If you don’t, the opposing side could claim your accident injuries aren’t as serious as you claim.
Call the Police
While it may be tempting to call your lawyer first, we advise that you contact the police. By doing so, you are protecting your legal rights and establishing undeniable evidence of the accident. In the long run, your DUI accident lawyer in Shreveport will need the police report and other relevant documents to make a claim against the insurance company.
Exchange Information
If you were driving and had passengers in the car, ensure everyone is unharmed before exchanging information with the driver. Be sure to collect the other driver’s information, including:
- Their name
- Phone number
- Driver’s license
- License plate number
- Insurance company
- Policy number
It would be a good idea to check the driver’s ID to make sure the information you collect is correct. If you have a cell phone available, call the phone number they give you before leaving the scene. Additionally, note the location of the accident and the type and model of the vehicle.
Take Pictures
If you do not have a phone, ask someone else to take pictures. If you can, be sure to get pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident and the scene of the accident or the surrounding areas.
Also, make sure to speak to witnesses and collect their contact information. They can be helpful during the discovery process since your lawyer can interview them when building your personal injury case.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer for Help
You can call a DUI accident attorney in Shreveport to discuss your case. Our law firm can help you receive compensation for your injuries and recover damages for your losses.
Common Injuries Sustained in a Motor Vehicle Accident
Although you survived the DUI crash in Shreveport, chances are that you did not walk away unscathed. Generally speaking, most victims of DUI accidents end up with injuries and, in some cases, disabilities. A few common injuries are:
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Even without visible injuries, it’s important to seek medical care following a DUI accident. Untreated head injuries may result in intense headaches, sleep deprivation, and problems with your brain functionality.
The Average Settlement for a DUI Accident Case
The average payout for a drunk driving accident case is about $125,000. However, results may vary. Settlements can range anywhere from under $10,000 to over $1,000,000. Settlements are calculated based on each case.
As one example, we assisted a client who was injured by a drunk driver. After suffering multiple fractures, including a broken back, our client successfully won $650,000. If you suffered extensive injuries, your case may be worth more than average.
Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Fighting for Victims in Shreveport, LA
With 15 locations across four states, the Morris Bart law firm is committed to defending the rights of drunk driving accident victims. If you hire a Shreveport drunk driving accident lawyer from our firm, we can handle the legal side of things out of our Shreveport office while you continue working on your recovery.
To learn more about our legal services and to receive a free, no-obligation consultation on your case, contact a representative at the Morris Bart law firm today at (318) 553-5470. We handle many drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis where our clients do not pay us attorney’s fees unless and until they recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award.
Questions?Call (318) 553-5470
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
